Major League Soccer is desperate for a presence in New York City. But The Big Apple isn’t exactly ready for MLS.

The comprehensive restructuring of the New York Cosmos expansion bid and the lack of public progress toward building a stadium in the five boroughs have thrust a once-unlikely candidate toward the front of the race for team No. 20—Orlando.

The theme park capital’s bona fides were enhanced this week with the confirmation that MLS commissioner Don Garber will meet March 1 with Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, city leaders and fans of USL Pro (third division) club Orlando City, which has every intention of transitioning from minor to major league.

“While New York City remains the League’s focus for our 20th club, it’s important to continue evaluating future options as we continue to grow the league,” Garber said. “This growth has been built on a foundation of strategic expansion strategies and a growing passionate soccer fan base across North America. As such, I’ve been impressed with Orlando City’s success on and off the field and look forward to meeting with local supporters and speaking directly with key public officials about the future of professional soccer in Orlando.”

City played its first season in Orlando last year after moving from Austin, Texas. Owned and run by Phil Rawlins, an investor in English Premier League club Stoke City, Orlando drew around 5,500 fans per game in its inaugural season at the Citrus Bowl and won the USL Pro championship. More than 11,000 showed for the final. The Montreal Impact, now in MLS, were the only club in the second through fourth divisions of American soccer that drew more fans in 2011. The Impact have been around since 1993.

Last fall, Rawlins told Sporting News that entry into MLS by 2014 wasn’t out of the question. The big leagues have been his target since he acquired the former Austin club, and next week’s meeting with Garber won’t be the first. But the commissioner’s March 1 visit will be the most public and will include a “town hall” style interaction with fans at an Orlando restaurant. Garber’s trip will coincide with the third Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, a preseason tournament that will feature City, six MLS clubs and Sweden’s BK Häcken and run Feb. 24-March 3.

City already has earned 1-1 draws with the Seattle Sounders and Philadelphia Union in exhibitions this month.

The key to Orlando’s bid will, of course, be a stadium (plus continued sluggishness in New York). Sporting News understands that paying the expansion fee, which will top the $40 million paid by Montreal, won’t be a problem and that additional investors are waiting in the wings if progress is made.

The Florida Citrus Bowl, while iconic, isn’t up to modern professional standards. There are no seat backs in the facility and few amenities, and the plan to upgrade the stadium with money earned from state and local tourism taxes was delayed when the economy faltered.

Government officials have set certain economic milestones, such as attendance and hotel room sales, before committing the funds to improve Orlando’s sports infrastructure. Even keeping the stadium’s two college football bowl games isn’t a given. The upcoming NBA All-Star game at the Amway Center will help fill the coffers.

Meanwhile, Rawlins already has been exploring a permanent, soccer-specific stadium solution for his club.

“We are committed to bringing an MLS franchise here and doing what it takes, whether it’s renovating the Citrus Bowl or finding a path to a soccer-specific stadium.

Knowing MLS, they’re going to focus on the soccer-specific stadium,” a City spokesperson told Sporting News.

MLS shut down its clubs in Tampa and Fort Lauderdale following the 2001 season and has since been leery about the reliability of Florida’s support.

But the American southeast needs a team, and Rawlins’ group is the most viable yet to come forward. Whether they are more viable than anyone in New York remains to be seen, but Garber’s visit indicates that MLS at least has an open mind.